Gastronomy: Tucson Community Research Experience

Students engaged in this project will learn about Tucson's recent designation
as the first UNESCO City of Gastronomy in the U.S. Students will explore the importance of sustainable desert food production, food security, heritage foods and foodways, and Southern Arizona's rich agricultural history which dates back more than 4,000 years.
For the primary focus of this internship, students will conduct research (on-line and through
interviews) that will provide baseline indicators for tracking changes in Tucson's
food system. Students will be trained to obtain data on a variety of indicators of food
system change, which include local government food policies, food justice
initiatives, food business start-ups, restaurants and groceries which locally source
their foods and beverages, school garden and community garden initiatives, seed
biodiversity and pollinator conservation efforts, gleaning networks, community
composting programs, and food relief and nutrition education programs for low
income households. Students will recognize and value how food studies and the UNESCO City
of Gastronomy designation connect with other aspects of civic society, i.e., nonformal
and formal education outreach, economic development, heritage
preservation, community engagement, nutrition and public health, and poverty
reduction.